We'd like to introduce you to a local Jefferson Awards Nominee, Melvin McNeel of Riverview. Friend & co-worker, Sheryl Kershaw, nominated "Mac" for
this public service award and shared this with us:
"Mac" served a full military career, became a foster parent himself, and then formed
Foster Angels of Hillsborough County. Kershaw has known "Mac" for about eight years
from working on the Angel Tree Program. One year, the McNeel's got several new kids
right at Christmas, and realized most foster kids do not receive presents at Christmas.
The next year, they found sponsors and helped provide Christmas for many of the kids in care. They have accomplished this for the past 20 years.
Foster Angels has evolved over the years, thanks to Melvin McNeel. The program now
provides gifts, clothing and shoes for one thousand kids per year in residential
foster care homes across Hillsborough County. Mac works tirelessly on this program year round, finding new sponsors & warehouses to store the gifts. Kershaw says, "as a foster parent myself, I know how much it helps to have assistance with providing Christmas for these kids. With all these kids have lost you want them to know that Santa knows where to find them."
